PREVALENCE OF ALLERGIC RHINITIS AND ASSOCIATED RISK FACTORS AMONG PATIENTS ATTENDING KCMC HOSPITAL ENT DEPARTMENT BETWEEN JANUARY 2015 – DECEMBER 2015
Abstract
Description
INTRODUCTION: Allergic rhinitis is one of the commonest atopic disease that contributes
to significant morbidity worldwide but its epidemiology in Tanzania remain scarce due to
lack of enough study. There is lack of enough information and the general knowledge
regarding allergic rhinitis among residents around the regions bordering Kilimanjaro,
affecting quality of life and subjecting them to several consequence of its complications.
OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine the prevalence, risk factors and complications
of allergic rhinitis among patients attending at KCMC department of ENT.
METHODOLOGY: The study was a hospital based retrospective cross section study in
which data was collected from ENT and medical records department of corresponding files of
patients who presented with a diagnosis of allergic rhinitis at KCMC who met the inclusion
criteria.
RESULTS: Of all patients 193 included in the study females are more affected with allergic
rhinitis52.3% compared to males with the ratio of 0.91, with the prevalence being high in
children 0-10 age group. Also I found that those with a family history of atopy and asthma
were at more risk of developing allergic rhinitis 59.1% and the most
encounteredcomplication was turbinate hypertrophy where 61.7% of all patients involved had
or were treated for it.
CONCLUSION: At KCMC majority of patients diagnosed with allergic rhinitis are females
and specially children with a family history of atopy and asthma. They attend clinic mostly
during the summer which is likely the season of frequent attack and most of them come in
with complications notably turbinate hypertrophy.
Keywords
Research Subject Categories::MEDICINE